Swine Producer Appraisal of the Community Assessment Model for Odor Dispersion (CAM)
Date
Authors
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Since 1905, the Department of Agricultural Engineering, now the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), has been a leader in providing engineering solutions to agricultural problems in the United States and the world. The department’s original mission was to mechanize agriculture. That mission has evolved to encompass a global view of the entire food production system–the wise management of natural resources in the production, processing, storage, handling, and use of food fiber and other biological products.
History
In 1905 Agricultural Engineering was recognized as a subdivision of the Department of Agronomy, and in 1907 it was recognized as a unique department. It was renamed the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in 1990. The department merged with the Department of Industrial Education and Technology in 2004.
Dates of Existence
1905–present
Historical Names
- Department of Agricultural Engineering (1907–1990)
Related Units
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
- College of Engineering (parent college)
- Department of Industrial Education and Technology, (merged, 2004)
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Abstract
The community assessment model (CAM) for odor dispersion is a tool to assist in the siting of swine production facilities. CAM considers the size and type of a swine production system, local historical weather conditions, and odor control implementation. It predicts the number of hours of exposure to various levels of odor, by month, for each receptor in a given community. A follow-up survey of all CAM users since 2005 was conducted. The survey was designed to provide: 1) formative feedback for programming adjustments to improve Extension efficiency, usability, and reduce costs; and 2) summative feedback used to provide an indirect baseline assessment of the broader impact that CAM has had on reducing odor-related conflict. For the majority of producers who used CAM, the potential impacts to their neighbors factored heavily into decisions. CAM was believed to be very important to the siting process. A high majority (95%) of producers clearly understood the model results. Over half communicated these results to their neighbors where a third of these were considered positive interactions. Overall, for producers who went on to build at sites that were modeled there was a significant improvement in neighbor relations. CAM continues to evolve as a tool, with the addition of more refined odor dispersion parameters and the ability to include cattle and poultry. The state of Iowa has passed legislation that would, when funding is made available, integrate the use of CAM into odor management policy.
Comments
This article is from Applied Engineering in Agriculture 26, no. 5 (2010): 927–933.